In late July I rec'd a card from E-Credit Solutions... Forwarded to me in Canada (I'm here visiting after retiring on disability) from my former address in Maryland. Having had to file for bankruptcy several years ago, I was interested in obtaining a line of credit (as proffered by E-Credit Solutions) and I called the number. I guess I am just stupid because I authorized a check (electronic transfer) for $199.95 for a $4000 credit card on August 2 (this year). Of course the eletronic cash transfer was processed immediately. I explained to E-Credit Solutins that I was in Canada temporarily and was told there was no problem... I would recive my card package. The person I spoke with gave her name as Melissa Newton.
After about 6 weeks and no card rec'd, I called these people back and was told I had to call customer service 1-800-959-4995. When I tried, the call would not go through... Some calls to toll-free numbers in the U.S. Will not not work from Canada... Although the original number (sales 1-800-959-4990) worked fine.
I called back to 1-800-959-4990 and told them that I could not access the customer service number from Canada. I asked them if they could transfer me... The answer was "NO." I asked if they could call for me and ask customer service to call me. The answer was "NO." I asked for a non-800 number and was told there was not one. I asked for the "manager" who advised me to give the "package" another week to reach me.
Afterward I called Telus (Canadian information operator) to see if there was another way to reach 1-800-959-4995.. Sometimes they can provide alternative numbers. There was no alternative in this case.
On October 17, I called 1-959-4990 again. This time the "representative" really seemed sincere and interested in helping me. She..."Cynthia Dawkins, #37"... Told me she would contact customer service for me. She looked up my SS number and verfied I was "in their system." I actually believed her.
Anyhow today I rec'd an e-mail from E Credit Solutions, (looks just like the post card I got back in July)..."you have not activated your diamond card... $4000... Blah blah". I called the number and the person starts right off like the very first time... Like I'm a brand new contact. I explain to this guy that I've already shelled out my $199.95... 10 weeks ago... And rec'd nothing. Then the manager "Richard Levy" comes on the line. I have to call customer service at 1-800-959-4995. I explain that I can't do this from Canada. So he tells me to write them. I ask him if he will call customer service and ask them to call me since I can't call them. He says no way... He is a thousand miles from customer service... If he did that for me, he would have to do it for 75 people a day. I told him that it seemed to me that after they rec'd $199.95 from me and I had waited 2 1/2 months and was unable (because of not being in the U.S. To make the call) that I thought a decent company would make such a call. He then repeated he could not make any call for me, that I would have to write:
National Credit Shopper
7349 N.W. 34th St.
Miami, FL 33122
And pursue the matter with them.By the way, "Mr. Levy" said that he did not know anyone named Melissa Newton or Cynthia Dawkins (names given to me previously at the same office as Mr. Levy..."representatives" of E Credit Solutions."
I was going to compose a letter, then I decided to try Telus (phone information) to see if there was a phone number for National Credit Shopper at the above address. It seems as though there is not. I asked if there was one for E Credit Solutions (even though Mr. Levy had been very emphatic that it was not E Credit Solutions I was supposed to contact in Miami). Of course, there was no number for E Credit Solutions in Miami either.
I then decided (way too late apparently) to poke around online and found a number of messages from people who fall into one of the following groups: (1) those who appear to have been taken for a ride by E-Credit Solutions or (2) those who were smart enough to post online queries regarding the integrity of this company. Seeming to fall into group (1) I really now believe that I have been scammed. Now I wonder is there any reason to write a letter as Mr. Levy told me to do. Am I wasting my time. I tried Yahoo yellow pages and found no listing for National Credit Shopper (or E Credit Solutions) in Miami. At this point if I wrote a letter, something tells me I would just waste 60 cents on postage and then sit and sit and hear nothing. I'm out $200 and as a retiree on disability that is a lot of money to me.
What is even worse (in terms of confirming my stupidity or any doubts I had about it) is that thia happened to me with another card "Peoples Credit First" which I learned via my internet surfing today is apparently a card you can only use to buy "junk" from an online sales site... Figurines and other crap I wouldn't take if if were free. I thought I was applying for a MasterCard.
So... What do I do now??? Write a letter to National Card Shopper, give up... Complain? To whom? I really feel so dumb. I am on a very limited income. Have I really and truly been scammed by E Credit Solutions???
Thanks for listening and for any feedback you can give me.
I have another address and phone number jotted down on the same page as the E-Credit info., but after 2 1/2 months I cannot remember the exact connection, if any, to E-Credit Solutions (althugh when I mentioned it, Mr. Levy seem startled?).
STI-Card Processing Center
P.O. Box 15049
Jacksonville, FL 32239-5049
The "activation" number: 1-800-371-1838
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